Lotus Exige Day - Silverstone

Can you believe it? Never driven a Lotus in my life and then 2 come along together. I was fortunate enough to receive one as a Xmas present from my girlfriend and then also managed to win another driving day in a competition with Silverstone magazine. Well, I'm not going to complain now am I.

Back

So after flooring it most of the way to Silverstone we drove round a deserted circuit and over the bridge to the infield. Things were a lot busier here, obviously Silverstone are making some decent business out of these driving days. Reception was full of people booking in, playing computer games, watching videos and checking out the display cars on show.

After a 30 minute briefing that covered all the usual tips about braking in a straight line and being smooth through the corners we ventured down to the cars. There were about 5 Exiges sitting pretty on the tarmac and a little further up a good handful of Ferraris (but that was as close as I would get to them). A quick introduction to the drivers and helmet selection, then we were into the cars.

Each car is shared by two drivers, so when one comes in you swap and have a rest while the other tears round the track. I was car number 8, a nice little black number that I was most eager to get behind the wheel of. Climbing in could be a little easier, but then we're not here for the comfort are we. So, get comfortable, check your pedals are within reach and try to listen to your instructor whilst another assistant attempts to bury you into the driving seat with a racing harness.

I thought I knew what I was doing...

As we roll out of the pit area everything appears to be very close but then you're out on track and it's time to get on with it. I'd imagined myself wheelspinning out of the pits straight onto the racing line and setting the new lap record, as it happened things were a little different. In my own car or in a kart I can be at the sharp end very quickly, but in this new unknown-power growler and at a track I've never set foot on it took a little time to get used to. I had 4 laps of the instructor yelling at me that I can go much, much wider and brake a lot later I crawled back to the pits with my tail between my legs.

A short break and then back out for another 5 laps and much more comfortable with the car now but some of the corners are still confusing me. The instructors put cones up around the track to help you get a fast lap, 1st red braking point, 2nd red turn-in, 3rd yellow is your apex point and 4th green is your exit point. All things that I am familiar with and preach to anyone who cares to listen. The problem is you really need to walk the course first to see how the cones relate to the corners, as it was some of the turn-in points appear to lead you straight into a tyre wall. It's not until you take a leap of faith and trust them that you realise they were right all the time. Still my last lap in particular was far, far better. Hard on the throttle, 110mph down the straight, late on the brakes and getting some Gs round the corners and suddenly I was starting to feel it.

And that was my last lap, but not quite the end of the experience. One final ride was due, only this one was in the passenger seat, bugger. Now I'm not a great passenger at the best of times, put my in a car with a certified speed freak and I'm like a rabbit in the headlights. You remember all those reference points I was talking about? Yeah he ignored all of them. Almost flat out from the start we completed the lap in less time than it took to say my prayers, particularly whilst jumping the chicane at 95mph.

It's a great way to spend a couple of hours although you'll also be spending a couple of hundred pounds too. What's even better for me is that I reckon I'll be much better prepared for my next Lotus day later in the year.

Check out the rest of the pics on the events page.